WINNING POCKET BILLIARDS
by Willie Mosconi
WINNING POCKET BILLIARDS by Willie Mosconi
CROWN PUBLISHERS, INC. New York
Contents FOREWORD By Harry Grove
9
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
21
TAKE YOUR CUE
27
CONSTRUCTION AHEAD
37
A DELICATE TOUCH
47
GET ON THE BALL
55
Table Specifications, Cue Racking the Balls, Cues
Cue Selection, Grip, and Stance
Basic, Rail, and Vee Bridges, Mechanical Bridge
Stroke Soft with Follow-through, Stroke and Speed
Stop, Follow, and Draw Shots, Warm-Up Stroking
A USEFUL TWIST
65
IN THE POCKET
71
SHARPEN YOUR STROKE
89
LET’S PLAY THE GAME
97
JUST FOR FUN
111
TALK A GOOD GAME
131
KNOW THE RULES
135
What is “English”?, Stroke for English, Bank Shots
Hit the Object Ball, and Score, Helpful Experiment
Practice Drills for All Players, Try Long Shots
How to Win at 14.1 Pocket Billiards, Play to Win
Learn to Perform Trick Shots
Glossary of Terms and Expressions
Digest of Regulations, 14.1 Continuous Play Rotation
9
Tools of the trade Table specifications and racking the balls.
1
“If you walk into a room and you can’t spot the sucker… it’s you!” — Minnesota Fats
1
2 3
4
5
Pool Cue: 1. Bumper, 2. Butt, 3. Joint, 4. Shaft, 5. Ferrule, 6. Tip
6
Introduction to the Table and Equipment: As in most other sports, equipment for the playing of pocket billiards has undergone refinements through the years. For the most part, however, equipment specifications and game rules have remained standard since the mid-1800’s. I feel that an outline of these modern specifications may be helpful to you.
To form a basic bridge (top to bottom), make a fist and place it on the table plam down. Open your thumb and forefinger and lay the cue along your thumb. Draw your forefinger down over the top of the cue, then separate and extend the last three fingers into a broad base
table-rail markers as points of reference as you tackle the fascinating geometry of pocket billiards.
Study the accompanying il-
lustration to familiarize yourself with
Table specifications:
table markings. Head and foot strings are not drawn on the table, but are
All versions of pocket billiards are
only imaginary lines joining specific
played on a rectangular table twice as
side-rail dots. Most pocket-billiards
long as it is wide, with 41/2 by 9 feet
games start with a break shot from be-
generally accepted as official tournament size. Finely woven wool cloth is stretched over the rubber cushions and table bed. When this cloth is cleaned, it should be brushed from the 1
head to the foot of the table to keep the nap smooth. The foot end of the table is where the balls are racked.
End rails of the table are marked
2
with three equally spaced diamonds or 3
dots, and side rails are equipped with six such dots to designate playing boundaries and guide the player in computing bank-shot angles. You will learn to use
4
hind the head string; this string is also the boundary behind which you must shoot with “cue ball in hand� after a cue-ball scratch or fault. A foot spot is affixed to the table as the center of the imaginary foot string. Balls are racked on this spot to start a game, and during the course of play individual balls that have been pocketed illegally or shot off the table must be returned to the spot or as close behind it as possible if the 5
spot is covered by another ball.
6 7 8
Pool Table: 1. Side Pocket, 2. Foot String, 3. Foot Spot, 4. Foot Rail, 5. Head Rail, 6. Head Spot, 7. Side Pocket, 8. Head String
15
The Hustler
VS Rudolf Wanderone A.K.A. ”Minnesota Fats”
Wanderone enjoyed promoting a feud
Fats because he felt that [Wanderone] was
with world champion Mosconi over how
always hurting the image of the game in-
to present pool – either as a rough-and-
stead of helping it.” Wanderone would state
tumble gambling game (Wanderone) or
smugly, “I may have ‘given away’ a few
as a genteel pastime and art form (Mosco-
games to deserving competitors, but I have
ni). Mosconi’s widow, Flora, has said of
never lost a real money game since I was
the rivalry, “My husband hated Minnesota
old enough to spell ‘Weeli Mesconi’.” The
The Champ
S Wille Mosconi
two played on Valentine’s Day 1978 in a
York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and was
televised match on ABC’s Wide World of
announced by Howard Cosell. Although
Sports. With almost 11 million viewers,
Wanderone lost the game, he won the
the game was the second-highest rated
audience with his banter, and with his
episode of the show for that year, behind
joking manner. Mosconi on the other
only the Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks
hand was reportedly perceived as cold.
rematch. The game was held at New 17
later chapter on game rules you will be instructed on how to position balls in the rack by number to start various games. In racking balls, it is important
Racking the Balls:
that they be moved to proper position at the foot spot and held in tight forma-
Regulation size is 2 1/4-inch diameter
tion while the rack is lifted. A “loose�
for all object balls and cue ball. Object
rack, one in which balls are separated,
balls are numbered I through 15, and
however slightly, will not break prop-
each ball is of a different solid color or
erly. Photographs in this section will
is banded for quick identification. In a
show you how to rack balls expertly.
STANDARD 8-BALL RACKING: 1-ball goes in the apex of the rack. 8-Ball goes in the middle. Place one striped-ball and one solid ball in the bottoms coners. The remaining balls go in no particular order.
1
2
3
19
TAKE YOUR CUE Cue selection, grip and stance.
2
“Rack em’ St. Peter… I beat everyone on Earth” — Minnesota Fats
The Fundamentals This is the first of several preliminary chapters in which I discuss the fundamentals of pocket-billiard play. Forgive the repetition, but I feel compelled to reemphasize the importance of this section to beginner and advanced player alike. I have observed too many otherwise promising students of the game stall and even backslide from a level of ability because of their neglect of fundamentals. A bad habit, formed and not corrected early in a player’s development, is likely to hinder his progress forever. Application of proper techniques in the following basic elements will enable you to progress to the maximum of your ability:
1 Cue selection, grip, and stance
2 Basic shotmaking
3 Basic bridge and variations
4 Hitting the cue ball
5 Stroke and follow-through
23
Pocket-billiard cues are nearly six feet long to permit your reaching the maximum number of shots in a comfortable position. A good cue is one whose weight distribution permits the
Cue Selection:
player to position his right-hand grip and left-hand bridge properly and
As a beginner, select a cue of average
without arm strain. This and other ref-
length and weight: let’s say 57 inches
erences to hand and arm are designed
and 19 or 20 ounces. Later, as you
to instruct the right-handed player.
practice, experiment to determine the
You left-handed players, of whom
weight best suited to you. If you find
there are a growing number, will re-
this game as challenging and fascinat-
verse such designations.
ing as I’m sure you will, your next step
may be purchase of a personal cue or
use sandpaper to taper the cue tip into
rental at your billiard center of one
a half-moon shape. The cue tip should
custom-fitted to you.
be rounded, not flat.
If you purchase your own cue,
“You tell Mosconi, if it ain’t for me, he’d be looking for work. I’m the one that put him on televison. He was the best tournament player. I’m the greatest money player.” — Minnesota Fats
“I’m not a pool hall guy.” — Willie Mosconi
1
3
2
5 4
Pool Cue: 1. Crown, 2. Shoulder, 3. Base, 4. Ferrule, 5. Shaft
25
Comfortable Stance: I’ve seen all kinds of stances, and I can safely say there are as many unorthodox stances by billiard players as by subway straphangers. Not all unusual
Here are two points of reference. A
stances are necessarily bad, but many
good billiard stance puts the player
are, and the only way to avoid the risk
into a balanced and comfortable posi-
of an unbalanced stance is to learn the
tion, and centers his head over the cue
correct position for body and feet-then
in the line of aim.
stick with it.
How do you achieve a good
stance? Eventually, you won’t be following this ritual before every shot, but for now, begin by standing erect, facing the direction of your shot. The position of the cue ball will determine how far back from the table you stand. For this exercise in proper form, however, stand about one foot back from
This photo sequence, from left to right, illustrates complete stroke action from aim to followthrough. Observe that my head is steady and that the cue remains level.
the table, with your weight evenly dis-
permits your right arm to swing freely
tributed on both feet.
and your left arm to be extended as
Now, turn both feet slightly to
straight as possible into the left-hand
the right and bend forward at the waist.
bridge. Your left knee will be bent a bit
Your feet should be six to eight inches
more than your right, and your body
apart and your weight still equally dis-
will be free to move slightly forward
tributed. This accepted billiard stance
with the stroke.
“You are what you are because it was in the cards. Every livin’ creature has a destiny. Understand? But some never know what it is. That’s the sad part. — Minnesota Fats 27
1 2
3
4
Comfortable Stance:
5
1. Head directly above cue, 2. Light grip on the butt of the cue, 3. Slightly Bent at the waist, 4. Feet are six to eight inces apart, 5. Proper grasp on cue
The Deacon
Irving Crane (1913 – 2001)
Nicknamed “the Deacon because of his
dozen majors, including six world billiards
gentlemanly ways, his very cautious ap-
titles. At the 1966 World Crown he ran
proach to the game and his impeccable
150 and out in the finals, never letting his
dress, never approaching a pool table ex-
opponent back to the table; an accomplish-
cept in a conservative suit. Hon almost two
ment that has never been equaled.
The First
Cisero Murphy (1937 – 1996)
Murphy was the first African-American
the baseball color line) in sports. Murphy
professional pocket billiards player to ever
was inducted into the Billiard Congress
win world and U.S. national titles. Some
of America Hall of Fame 1995. Cisero
people have compared Cisero Murphy to
Murphy is the only player in the history of
Major League Baseball’s Jackie Robinson,
pocket billiards competition to win a world
breaking the racial barriers (including
title on his first attempt. 31
The Talent
Harold Worst (1929 – 1966)
Worst
was an American champion
ducted into the Billiard Congress of Amer-
three-cushion billiards champion. He won
ica Hall of Fame. Worst died in Blodgett
the three cushion billiard championship in
Memorial Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich-
Argentina in 1954, the youngest player to
igan of cancer. He was 37 years old.
compete at his level. In 1970 he was in-
The Meatman
Joe Balsis (1921 – 1995)
Nicknamed “the Meatman” because of
players including Andrew Ponzi and Er-
his family’s meat business. He was induct-
win Rudolph. In 1964 Balsis began com-
ed into the Billiard Congress of America’s
peting professionally, winning the US
Hall of Fame in 1982. The young Balsis
Open in 1965 and the 1966 World All-
was skilled enough by age 11 to play
Around Championship.
exhibition matches against professional 33
In this timeless classic, Willie Mosconi shares his expert advice on every facet of the game, from the essential fundamentals to more complex trick shots. Detailed diagrams and step-by-step illustrations guide beginners and advanced players alike through such basics as the selection of the cue; the proper grip and stance; cueing the ball; and hitting the object ball. Players of any level can improve their game by following Mosconi's invaluable instruction on the finer points of combination and kiss shots, the proper application of English, and the speed of stroke.